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While “The Orphanage” was decimating B.O. records at the Spanish B.O. this weekend, opening Thursday to a first four day $8.3 million, the latest crop of Spanish genre pics were walking tall at Sitges.

Nacho Vigalondo’s “Time Crimes” was by Saturday near to closing worldwide rights outside Spain with a sales agent.

A pastoral sci-fi dramedy plunging a cringing Spanish everyman into dizzy timeloops, “Crimes” also had three English-language remake offers on the table, said producer Javier Ibarretxe.

Throwing into sharp relief a broadening generational divide, “Crimes” left older local crix cold. But it drew a fervent response from younger blogosphere-centric auds, who are far more in synch with Vigalondo’s points of reference — comics, Philip K. Dick and Robert A. Heinlein. The director’s cult blogger status and the pic’s top prize at Austin’s Fantastic Fest a few weeks back helped to heighten expectations.

Coach 14 sold wilderness sniper thriller “King of the Hill,” helmed by Gonzalo Lopez Gallego, to Germany’s Kinowelt at Sitges. TWC already took the U.S. on “King” at Toronto.

The only major territory still available on “REC” and “Hill” is Japan, a sign of just how tough that market’s become for all but the biggest of movies.

Spain’s sole world preem in competition was “Fermat’s Room,” in which four mathematicians are forced to solve an enigma before they are crushed in a shrinking room. Helmed by Luis Piedrahita and Rodrigo Sopena, the “Cube” like thriller received generally upbeat reactions.

Sam Rockwell took actor for “Joshua.” Jeong Seo-gyeong and Park Chan-wook snagged screenplay for “I’m a Cyborg, but That’s OK.”

Singh, Bayona, Vigalondo, Maury and Bustillo are all first-time directors, a sign of fantasy films’ creative renewal. If Sitges’ kudos and dealmaking is anything to go by, a growing amount of that energy is flowing from Europe.

Other festival highlights included George A. Romero giving interviews in a local cemetery. The horror helmer was in town to collect Sitges’ honorary grand prix.

Fellow honoree designer Syd Mead, and Douglas Trumbull, on hand for a 25th anni “Blade Runner” tribute, were received like gods in fest’s 1,300 seat theater.

Bayona gave a humble and humored masterclass. He began by saying, “Don’t pay much attention to anything I say.”